Speaking Honestly About Life (V) – Life Needs Guides

Deiform Buddha

December 12, 2006

A guide is someone who shows us the way, not someone who carries us along the path. To have the fortune of encountering one or several guides in life is an immense blessing. Figures like Jesus, Sakyamuni, Muhammad, and Laozi are the greatest guides in human history. However, I want to discuss the guides we encounter in everyday life—those who may seem ordinary but illuminate critical turning points on our journey.

My First Guide The first guide in my life was Guo Xinjian, the principal of Jiuquan Education College. Once, during a chance meeting on the road, he said to me, “Never stay long in a place that doesn’t align with your ideals!” This advice was like a lighthouse that illuminated my path ahead. It set me on the course of seeking an environment that suited me, helping me avoid a life of misery. His words ultimately played a role in my decision to found Lifechanyuan.

My Second Guide My second guide was my close friend, Xue Binyi. His thinking was unconventional; he often glimpsed a different world within commonly accepted norms. For example, his concept of “visualized thinking” was a unique discovery. Whenever possible, we would gather and engage in wide-ranging conversations, which benefitted me immensely. At just over 30 years old, he was already leading a large geophysical exploration team and mentoring a group of individuals, of whom I was one.

My Third Guide My third guide is my current wife. An ordinary woman, she possesses exceptional foresight and wisdom. Her guidance transcends mundane interests and directly addresses the core themes of LIFE. For example, when I was considering going abroad, a leader at my workplace urged me to stay, hinting that I could succeed him as the head of a mechanical processing plant. Given my strong theoretical and practical foundation in mechanical engineering, this was a tempting offer. I hesitated—should I stay and strive for this position, or go abroad to work as an interpreter?

I discussed this dilemma with my wife, and she decisively said, “A true man’s ambitions should reach far beyond his current circumstances. Don’t just focus on immediate benefits. Even if you become the plant manager or a provincial governor, wouldn’t you still be just a cog in the machine? Go abroad!” Her firm words resolved my doubts, and I embarked on a journey abroad. This decision allowed me to experience foreign cultures, engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, study the Bible in church, and witness the lives of Christians—all of which laid a vital foundation for the birth of Lifechanyuan.

Gratitude for Guides I am deeply grateful to my guides. Without their wisdom, I would have been left to grope blindly, like Xie Xun desperately deciphering the secrets of the Dragon Saber or someone lost in the “Spider’s Web Cave.”

Every true mentor hopes their disciples will ultimately surpass them. Only disciples who transcend their mentors can be deemed excellent, and only then can the mentor feel fulfilled and joyful. I strive to surpass my mentors to repay their grace and teachings. I regard Jesus, Sakyamuni, Muhammad, Laozi, and Mao Zedong as my mentors and work diligently to go beyond them. I believe my current endeavors align with the wishes of my guides and the purposes of my mentors.

Life Needs Guides and Mentors Life without guides or mentors is a bewildered LIFE, a sorrowful existence.

At present, I view the celestial members of Lifechanyuan as my guides and mentors. Every day, I eagerly absorb their wisdom, humor, and wit, drawing nourishment from their insightful words. Their selfless love and spirit of dedication inspire me to climb toward the highest realms of LIFE and existence. Without the soil and environment of Lifechanyuan, my life would remain barren.

I will always need guides!